As you read through the signs and struggles associated with each strength, mark where you think your kids fall on a simple graph like the one below.

People Smart Kids

People who are people smart are interested in… people. They tend to make friends easily partly because they understand people so well. They are also good at reading body language. They think and process their thoughts better by bouncing ideas off of others. Connection is their strength.

People Smart Signs

Like to watch people

Make friends easily

Offered to help when needed

Feel confident when meeting new people

Can easily guess how people feel just by looking at them

Enjoy getting people to see things their way

Enjoy group activities and lively conversations

Help the people around them get along better

Like to organize activities for their friends

Know how to get people involved

Preferred to work with others rather than alone

Are concerned with issues of fairness and right and wrong

People smart kids learn well from mentors. I made the mistake a while back of having my incredibly people smart son doing most of his school on the computer. As the oldest of the 6 kids I was currently homeschooling, it seemed logical. Boy, was that kid miserable! I wish I had known about Multiple Intelligence Theory when he kept asking me if I could teach him.

People Smart Struggles

Can be great motivators but also great manipulators

Can be prideful about how many friends they have

Can become prideful of their ability to manipulate

May struggle learning on their own

People Smart Careers

People smart people are happiest when they get to interact with people. They may be drawn to service jobs because they can often discern peoples’ needs. One of my dear friends is always thinking of ways to bless our family. When I travel to speak about homeschooling kids with learning differences, she often brings food or offers to watch our kids for a few days while I’m gone. People smart people make the best of friends.

Public speaker

Counselor

Politician

Lawyer

Social worker

Receptionist

Travel agent

Advertising

Personnel director

Sales person

Consultant

Nurse

Police officer

Missionary

Inventor

Self Smart Kids

My Self Smart kid is my easiest kid. Give her some constructive criticism and she takes it to heart by her very nature. Self Smart people think deeply inside of themselves. They can appear to be slow thinkers and they like to think a lot before speaking. They are very reflective. When they’re excited, they may like to go off on their own and think. Many Self Smart kids enjoy reflecting on their past, analyzing the present, and predicting their future. They tend to be effective goal setters.

Self Smart Signs

Prefer to work alone rather than with others

Stand up for beliefs even if unpopular

No their own feelings well

Enjoy keeping a journal

Have a good sense of who they are

Like to set and meet their goals

Worry less about what other people think of them than others

Spend time thinking about things that deep the matter to them

Have a strong sense of what they’re good at

Think about the future and what they’d like to be one day

Self Smart Struggles

Their independence and comfort with being alone can lead to self-centeredness

They may be prideful of their own ideas

They can believe that their ideas are more important than anyone else’s

They can have trouble being open to others’ ideas

Can become unteachable

Can have high standards that result in being hard on themselves

Being alone can lead to hopelessness or fear

Self Smart Careers

Often self-employed

Entrepreneurs

Private investigators

Poets

Writers

Pastors

Counselors

Social workers

Teachers

Therapists

Guidance counselor

Personal trainer

Key Takeaways on Multiple Intelligences

Everyone has all 8 intelligences but 2-3 primary strengths.

Every job will consist of responsibilities that touch on several intelligences.

Create relevant experiences for your children to develop and nurture their strengths.

Know that not all experiences will develop into a ‘smart but all experiences will stretch and grow any strength.

Don’t be hyper-focused on high paying jobs. Look for where your kids interests and abilities intersect – this is often where their calling or vocation lies.

Resources for Learning More About Multiple Intelligences

Multiple Intelligences: New Horizons in Theory and Practice by Howard Gardner
The first decade of research on MI theory and practice was reported in the 1993 edition of Multiple Intelligences. This new edition covers all developments since then and stands as the most thorough and up-to-date account of MI available anywhere. Completely revised throughout, it features new material on global applications and on MI in the workplace, an assessment of MI practice in the current conservative educational climate, new evidence about brain functioning, and much more.

Written directly to kids, this is a fascinating read. As kids read the book, they stop asking “How smart am I?” and start asking “How am I smart?” This powerful learning tool is recommended for all kids—and all adults committed to helping young people do and be their best. Resources describe related books, software, games, and organizations. This revised and updated edition includes information on a newly researched ninth intelligence, Life Smart—thinking about and asking questions about life, the universe, and spirituality.

Dr. Kathy Koch loves seeing children flourish and helping parents make it happen—and it’s never too late to start. Now is the time to help your child be all that God designed him or her to be.Accept and affirm your child’s unique smarts.
Motivate your child to learn and study with all 8 smarts
Reawaken any “paralyzed” smarts
Redirect misbehavior in new, constructive ways
Guide your child spiritually, relationally, and to a good career fit

How Understanding Mulitple Intelligences Has Helped my Family

When I began to look at my kids who are ‘outside-the-box’ learners through the lens of MI theory, I was better able to define what I already knew. My kids who couldn’t read or spell well could do things that I could never do. My kids who couldn’t remember their math facts to save their lives were amazingly intelligent in other areas – areas that had value.

I hope that this series on Muiltiple Intelligences has helped you in this same way.

How has learning about the theory of Multiple Intelligences changed the way you look at your own kids’ intelligence?

Today we’ll look at the Street Smarts: Nature and Body Intelligences. As you read through the signs and struggles associated with each strength, mark where you think your kids fall on a simple graph like the one below.

Nature Smart Kids

Nature smart kids have a profound affinity for animals. I have a few nature smart kids. One of them is nicknamed ‘the squirrel whisperer’ for her uncanny ability to coax even the most resistant squirrels out of their hideaways to nibble a cracker just inches from her hand. This daughter almost never played with dolls but preferred to play with stuffed animals. Nature smart people think with patterns. They are good at classify things in nature like birds and trees etc. This is closely tied in someways to being picture smart but they don’t think in pictures rather in patterns. Their interest can be animals or plants or even weather. Basically, these people are tuned into their surroundings.

Signs You May Be Nature Smart

Like animals

Notice nature wherever they are

Enjoy camping and hiking

Have a green thumb

Enjoy taking care of pets

Like going to parks, zoos, or aquariums

Have a good memory for details of places where they’ve been and the names of animals, plants, people, and things

Have ‘street smarts’

Ask a lot of questions about the people, places, and things they see in their environment

Enjoy figuring out what things are and then placing them into categories (i.e. bird watching or classifying cars)

Nature Smart Struggles

One of my nature smart kids once asked me, “Mom, is it weird that I prefer animals to people?” For that child, it was always a delicate balance between her becoming too isolated because she just preferred the tranquility and peace of animals over people.

May struggle in their relationships with people

May feel awkward around people

May struggle to put adequate time into their studies

Nature Smart Careers

There is a wide range of careers that would be suited to a person with strong nature smarts. Remember there is a hierarchy among the various smarts and that each individual will have their own unique career path.

Various science careers

Animal shelter worker

Flower shops

Camp counselor

Park Ranger

Veterinarian or a veterinarian assistant

Environmental inspector

Landscape designer

Nature photographer

Missionary

Pet sitter

Body Smart Kids

Body Smart kids think by moving and touching. When they are excited, they move more. Motion is very important to them. They learn and think with their entire body. Their hands are busy building, writing, touching, twisting hair, playing etc. Their feet are busy tapping, shifting in place, or walking.

Signs That You May Be Body Smart

Dance gracefully

Mimic peoples’ gestures and expressions

Enjoy acting in skits or plays

Like to move around and be active

Think better when moving around

Learn physical skills easily

Do crafts or build models with skill

Good at sports

Have a good coordination or sense of timing

Love recess

Body Smart Struggles

Kids who are body smart can use those strengths for the wrong reasons in unique ways. Teaching kids to be smart with their smarts will both affirm their strength and help them develop much-needed self-control.

Constant motion can be distracting for others

May hurt others when angry or upset

Punching, kicking or biting

Shoving their way to the front of the line

May lack boundaries when wrestling for fun

The Story of Gillian Lynne

I want to share an interesting Body Smart story. The story is about a little girl named Gillian Lynne who grew up in England in the 1930s. Gillian’s teacher complained to her mother that she was having a hard time sitting still in class and that her behavior was distracting the rest of the students. This teacher suggested that Gillian see a doctor to figure out what was going on with her.

At the doctor’s office, Gillian’s mother told the doctor about the teacher’s report of Gillian’s behavior. After asking some questions, the doctor and Gillian’s mother stepped out of the office for a moment. Before they left, the doctor turned on a small radio. Peering in the small office window the doctor pointed out Jillian’s behavior. She was dancing.

The doctor told Gillian’s mother that there was nothing wrong with her – that she was a dancer. The doctor suggested that Gillian join a dance school. Julian’s mother was able to enroll her in a performing arts school. Gillian was reported to have said of the other students, “They’re all like me!”

Gillian went on to become an accomplished dancer with the London Ballet. She also became a world famous choreographer and is best known for her work on musicals such as Cats and The Phantom of the Opera.

Gillian’s story is a powerful example of how we are all created uniquely and for a purpose. Imagine if Gillian had grown up in today’s schools? Medication, anyone?

Body Smart Careers

Body Smart people gravitate toward careers that rely on a sense of touch, hand-eye coordination, and or large motor movements. We all benefit from professionals with Body Smarts, from a chiropractor’s adjustments, a dentist’s drill or a hair dresser’s scissors.

Chiropractor

Dentist

Hairdresser

Mechanic

PE teacher

Orchestra conductor

Carpenter

Plumber

Welder

Truck driver

Stunt person

Physical therapist

Surgeon

Actor

Seamstress

Sports coach

How has learning about Mulitple Intelligences changed the way you look at learning and your kids so far? Let us know in the comments below.

Join us here tomorrow when we’ll look more closely at The People Smarts: People & Self Intelligences.

Linking up to the iHomeschool Network 5-Day Hopscotch. Click the image below to read more great posts in this series.

We talked about what the theory of Multiple Intelligences is and how it can transform the way you and your kids look at intelligence. We also looked at two of the intelligences (or smarts) that are associated with strong academic performance: Word and Logic Smarts.

Today we’ll look at the Artistic Smarts: Picture and Music Smarts. As you read through the signs and struggles associated with each strength, mark where you think your kids fall on a simple graph like the one below.

Picture Smart Kids

Picture smart children thinking pictures. When they are excited they add to their pictures. They have a need to doodle and draw. They get joy from creating. Visualizing and observing are their strengths. Picture smart people have more artistic ability than a visual learner who learns best by seeing.

Signs That You May Be Picture Smart

Draw or doodle a lot

Remember faces more than names

Read or draw maps for fun

Enjoy building things

Enjoy watching movies or videos

See patterns in the world around them

Like to draw out sketches of ideas

Think in pictures and easily see objects in their minds

Like taking things apart and putting them back together

Work with art materials like paper, paint, and markers

Draw well

Like building models are things in 3-D

Picture Smart Struggles

Picture smart kids will need to learn to guard their eyes. They can get into trouble by looking at things that they shouldn’t. They have trouble turning off their eyes out of curiosity or just tuning out visual stimuli when they need to be listening or paying attention to something else.

May tend to judge others by appearance

May become critical of visual mistakes in others’ wardrobe, decoration or some school project

May put their trust in looking just right

May have trouble turning off their eyes

Picture Smarts Careers

Many picture smart careers will be strongly influenced by other smarts. For example, someone with a Picture and Body smart combination may choose a career that utilizes the eyes and motor skills and include careers such as a cartographer, construction, book illustrator, clothing designer, or photographer. Someone who is Nature and Picture smart on the other hand might go into something like urban planning, horticulture, landscape architecture, and navigating. So all this to say that not all picture strengths are the same.

Artist or art teacher

Inventor

Photographer

Movie or video game making

Careers involving design such as graphic designers, or fashion designers

Sculptor

Architect

Engineering

Inventing

Music Smart Kids

Music smart kids think with rhythms and melodies. When they are excited, they make music. They need to be able to express themselves musically. Sounds and music are their main strengths. They also find rhythms and melodies in the world around them. Composer George Gershwin said, “I frequently hear music in the heart of noise.” He reported getting many of his best musical ideas from the sounds of the city. Music smart kids may make sounds like tapping and drumming to the sounds around them.

Music Smart Struggles

Can struggle traditional school subjects (although music may keep them motivated)

May idolize musicians

May have an unhealthy desire for fame

May become prideful of their talent

May look down on others who are less talented

May struggle with perfectionism

As parents, we need to be careful not to squelch this smart. I read the story of a mom who had a son who was particularly enthusiastic about his music. She and her husband were able to carve out part of the garage for him to put on his shows and practice so that he wasn’t disturbing the rest of the family. Also, it’s good to know that some kids take piano or some other musical intrument lessons for a few years and lose interest. This is not a waste of time. This still broadens their Music Smart. Other kids will continue taking lessons, join musical groups, and stay invested into adulthood. Once stretched, a smart never goes back to its original size. Music study can also be a great way for kids to learn the power of self-discipline.

Music Smart Careers

Music therapists

Music teachers

Composers or conductors

Music arrangers or producers

Instrument store owner

Advertisers

Disc jockeys

Piano tuners

How has learning about Mulitple Intelligences changed the way you look at learning and your kids so far? Let us know in the comments below.

In my first post, we talked about what the theory of Multiple Intelligences is and how it can transform the way you and your kids look at intelligence.

Over the next few days, we’ll look more closely at each of the 8 Intelligences proposed by Dr. Gardner. As you read through the signs and struggles associated with each strength, mark where you think your kids fall on a simple graph like the one below.

Today, we are going to dive into the actual intelligences (or ‘smarts’ for short). We’ll look at 2 smarts each day. Today we’re looking at Word and Logic Smarts, otherwise known as the school smarts. Kids who have these as their main intelligences tend to have an easier time in school. Let’s look at some of the signs, struggles, and careers for people who are Word ad Logic smart.

Signs That Your Child May Be Word Smart

Word Smart kids talk. A lot. They talk to think, talk during play, talk to everyone, and talk to no one. Word smart kids think in words and when they are excited, they almost always talk. On a recent trip to Chicago, my husband and I traveled with our two preteen daughters. It was interesting to observe them in light of their unique mix of intelligences. Our word smart daughter talked, and talked, and talked some more about everything she was seeing and thinking. While our nature smart daughter (which we’ll get to in a few days) hardly said a word. However, when she did talk, she was full of observations of the patterns she had been noticing about the workings of the airport and aboard the airplane. Fascinating! Being Word Smart is a school smart because much of the time our kids spend in school involves reading, writing, speaking, and listening.

May talk early

Curious about letters and writing while young

Like to write letters emails

Able to remember details

Has a large vocabulary

Loves to read

Likes to tell stories

Enjoys talking about ideas with others

Has a good memory for names

Word Smart Struggles

Remember that negative behaviors can point to strengths that are being used badly.

Gossiping

Teasing

Lying

Arguing

Needing to have the last word

Talking when they should be listening

Can be prideful of their intellectual abilities

Remember what we learned on day one of the series. It’s important to correct our kids without shutting them down.

Word Smart Careers

Careers that involve word smarts are any careers that have to do with learning, speaking, listening, reading, writing, and teaching.

Journalist, writer, editor

Teacher, librarian

Pastor, counselor

Public relations, radio or television

Proofreader, editor

Screenwriter, speech writer

Storyteller, translator, web editor

Signs That You May Be Logic Smart

Logic smart kids think with questions and when they’re excited, they ask more questions. They have a high need to know why and for things to make sense. They’re often asking “Why?” When combined with people smarts they can make great leaders. This is another school smart. Many logic smart kids enjoy science, math, and nonfiction reading. They enjoy analyzing, predicting, and inventing.

Find numbers fascinating

Like science

Can easily do math in their head

Enjoy counting things

Enjoy discovering how things work

Remember numbers and statistics easily

Enjoy strategy games

Notice connections – cause and effect

Spend time doing brainteasers are logic puzzles

Love to organize information on charts and graphs

Use computers for more than playing games

Logic Smart Struggles

Not only can logic smart kid solve problems, they can also cause them often without being caught! These are the kids that when mom or dad says parentheses don’t step over that line parentheses will put their foot in the middle of the line and argue about it.

Curiosity can lead to trouble

Intellectual pride, thinking they have all the answers

Judging others

Arguing to make their points

Being angry when they’re confused

Tend to worry when things don’t make sense

Logic Smart Careers

Accountant, bookkeeper

Electrician, engineer

Auditor, banker

Appraiser

Computer programmer

Meteorologist or another science field

Auto mechanic

Plumber

Phone repair technician

Researching or teaching

How has learning about Mulitple Intelligences changed the way you look at learning and your kids so far? Let us know in the comments below.

I am one of the most left-brained, linear people I know. Being the mother of 7 kids who are about as right-brained and creative as they come has taught me a LOT.

For many years I tried as hard as I could to pound those ‘square pegs’ into round holes. Maybe you can relate? Maybe you too have tried to force your children to be good readers and good mathematicians – you know, ‘good students’. After all, this is the road to success, isn’t it?

I am very left brained and linear but I’m also a mother. And it didn’t take long for me to realize that my teaching methods, my ideals and ideas of what education was – of what intelligence was – were hurting my kids and needed to be re-examined. A big part of the reason that this website exists is due to my determination to figure out why my own children who are very bright and capable struggled to learn.

This is when I learned about Howard Gardner’s theory of Multiple Intelligences. If you are struggling to understand your child who just isn’t learning like other kids – your world may be transformed by this information as well.

What is the Theory of Multiple Intelligences?

The theory of Multiple Intelligences (MI), was proposed by the brilliant Harvard scientist and researcher Dr. Howard Gardner in 1983. His theory was a backlash against the notion that intelligence could be reduced to a formula and be measured by a test. Dr. Gardner theorized that there were many ways to be smart – 8 in fact.

Eight Kinds of Intelligence

Gardner suggested eight intelligences (there are several others being considered).

Verbal-linguistic (or Word Smart)

Logical-mathematical (or Logic Smart)

Naturalistic (or Nature Smart)

Interpersonal (or People Smart)

Intrapersonal (or Self Smart)

Visual-spatial (or Picture Smart)

Bodily-kinesthetic (or Body Smart)

Musical (or Music Smart)

Now clearly, we all have all 8 intelligences, but Gardner theorized that we are all stronger in 2-3 of the intelligences. Our unique mix of intelligences results in some phenomenal recipes for success.

As the mother of eight kids, I often joke that we are conducting our own genetics experiment over here! Honestly though, when I began to look at my ‘outside-the-box’ kids through the lens of MI theory, I was better able to define what I already knew. My kids who couldn’t read or spell well, could do things that I could never do. My kids who couldn’t remember their math facts to save their lives, were amazingly intelligent in other areas – areas that had value.

Why Understanding Multiple Intelligences Helps Kids

Increases confidence: Everybody wants to be smart. After understanding MI, instead of asking, “Am I smart?? kids can ask “How am I smart.”

Gives purpose: We teach our kids that they were created with a purpose. As we begin to focus on what they love and what they are good at, that purpose becomes more and more clear.

Volunteering and career choice: When a child’s purpose is openly explored, choosing a career or job becomes an organic outshoot of that knowledge leading to more fulfilling work.

How to Identify Your Child’s Intelligences

Pay attention to their interests. What do they do in their spare time? What did they spend their money on? What do they keep talking about? What gets them up in the morning?

Pay attention to how they misbehave. Do they talk too much? Maybe they’re word smart. Do they wiggle and touch everything? Maybe they’re body smart. Are they manipulative? Maybe they’re people smart.Do they need a reason for everything? Maybe they’re logic smart.

Pay attention to their favorite school subjects. Do they love history, fiction, and creative writing? Maybe they are picture smart. Do they love science? Maybe they are logic smart. Do they love drama? Maybe they are people smart.

How to Nurture Your Child’s Intelligence

Observe and acknowledge their unique smarts. I am the daughter of an engineer and an accountant. Imagine the confusion my parents experienced when their son (my brother) showed strong picture smarts and wanted to pursue a career in art. It isn’t enough to simple observe, we must also acknowledge thier intelligence – even if it is vastly different from our own!

Offer opportunities to strengthen their intelligences. Sign your picture smart child up for art classes. Allow your nature smart child to have a pet or two. Find a mentor for your logic smart child, if that is not one of your strengths.

Set healthy boundaries. As a child, I loved to talk. In fact, my report cards often said things like, “Great student. Talks too much.” However, although I was occasionally consequenced for my talkative nature, I was never shut down or told to shut up. My parents and teachers set healthy boundaries for me and, interestingly, now I travel around the country every year speaking to families about homeschooling and parenting their kids!

How to Shut Down our Kids’ Intelligence

Watch your reactions. We can stifle our kids’ intelligence by how we react to them – even with simple things like our tone of voice or a look. You know that look! I have one music smart kid and I am here today to tell you that that kid is NOISY! He is often humming, tapping, and otherwise making noise, er, I mean music.

Criticize rather than correct. Kids can become discouraged if we are continually disappointed and frustrated with them. Focusing on specific correction rather than criticism can help with this.

An attitude of perfectionism. Trying to find ways for our kids to grow and explore can be messy and, quite frankly, inconvenient.

Multiple Intelligence FAQs

All of the intelligences are different but equal in value. While Word and Logic smarts are associated with academic success, this is not the only way to be successful.

We’re not limited to one type of intelligence. In fact, we have 2-3 prominent strengths that combine to give us our unique purpose or calling in life.

Different intelligences work together. As you’ll see as we dig deeper into each intelligence, our top 3 intelligences work together uniquely to equip us in our unique calling.

The Eight Intelligences

Over the next 4 days, I will be diving into these 8 intelligences; including signs and strengths, struggles common to each strength, and possible careers for each intelligence.